It was awake. For years it had slept, dormantly growing inside the prison in which it had been born, all the while gaining strength and absorbing nutrients from the amniotic fluid that it was immersed in. But now, for the first time in its life, it was finally awake.

It opened its eyes, a piercing shade of aquamarine that seemed to glimmer as it slowly adjusted to its surroundings. It was safe and cosy here, it thought. But as warm rays of sunlight started seeping through the white, translucent walls of its enclosure, it couldn’t help but wonder what was out there, waiting for it to explore.

It turned its head, suddenly discovering its body for the first time. Fishlike scales covered its tiny torso, and bony limbs led up to talons on its feet and arms, which were attached to a pair of wings. With a graceful turn of its tail, it realised that it could switch positions with ease and soon it had found solid footing to push off. Mustering all of its strength, it stretched its claws out, pushing outwards until cracks began to grow and the light from outside grew brighter and brighter.

Soon enough, its great escape was complete. As its inquisitive head poked its way out of the oval, rounded egg and took its first gasp of air, it gazed upon the rounded, orange egg yolk rising above the horizon while in the distance, its draconic brethren soared through the clouds, screeching at their empire below.